Bottom opening suction cleaner



Oct. 16, 1951 '.J. T. FERRARIS BOTTOM OPENING SUCTION CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 20, 1947 MN ww, hw,

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Oct. 16, 1951 1 T, FERR/gms 2,571,125

v BOTTOM OPENING sUcTION `CLEANER Filed June 20, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN I FERRARIS Oct. 16, 1951 .1. T, FERRARIS BOTTOM OPENING SUCTION CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20, 1947 IN V EN TOR. JQHN I FERRARIS Oct. 16, 1951 J. T. FERRARIS BOTTOM OPENING SUCTION CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 20, 1947 INVENTOR. JOHN r[.` FERRRLSY f TOR/V22.

vpaterlted Oct. lr6, 9`5

UNirEo srargs orrigg 2,571,125' BOTTOM OPENING SUCTION LEE'N'Eit John T. Ferraris, -Cos Cob, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application June 20, 1947, Serial No. 755,894

(Cl. 18S-37) 6 Claims. l

This invention relates to suction cleaners and is particularly concerned with cleaners having a casing to receive and house a dust receptacle and which provides means for removing and inserting the dust receptacle through the bottom portion of the casing.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a suction cleaner which avoids the necessity of including a front, top or side door which must be opened to provide for the insertion and removal of a dust receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaner in which the construction provides'for the movement of a surrounding casing in such manner as to expose the dust receptacle for insertion or removal through the bottom of the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide insertion of the dust receptacle, the cover must a structure of the type set forth in which means are provided for opening the dust receptacle compartment in response to variations in the cleaning eiciency of the device.

Numerous other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section of one embodiment of the present inventive concept;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the casing raised to expose the dust receptacle;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly in section of the device in the position shown in Fig. l, and;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

While certain features of the present inventive concept may be embodied in various types of suction cleaners the invention is more particularly concerned with suction cleaners of the tank type which comprise a relatively stationary floor supported structure including a motor-fan unit and an associated dust collecting and receiving receptacle to which dustladen air is drawn through a flexible hose, suitable cleaning attachments being selectively attached to the hose to perform appropriate cleaning operations.

Such cleaners of this general type now on the market are characterized by the provision of a generally cylindrical casing having a hinged or removable end cover to which the hose is attached for delivering air to a removable dust receptacle therein. In the manipulation of such devices it is required that, for removal or be opened either by complete removal from the casing or by detachment of they hose and pivotal movement with respect to the casing. A feature of the present invention is that such opening of the front cover to an extent permitting the removal of the dust receptacle is not required.

The present invention is characterized by the provision of acasing which is open at the bottom and is mounted for pivotal movement, being normally closed while in horizontal position by a relatively stationary base structure. Upon pivotal movement of the present casing with respect to the base the bottom of the casing is opened to permit insertion and withdrawal of the dust receptacle.

Referring moreA particularly to the drawings, the base structure is identified generally by the numeral I0 and includes a substantially flat plateform II, the peripheral edge of which is provided with a gasket I2, which as will be hereinafter explained, cooperates with the open bottom of the casing to seal the same. The base I0 is hollow to provide, beneath the platform II, a space I4 for suitable operating instrumentalities, also hereinafter discussed.

The base IQ is supported in slightly raised position from the floor or other supporting surface by sleighs I5 which may be secured to the outer walls of the base I!! by suitable securing clips I6.

Intermediate the ends of the platform Il there is mounted a raised and perforated plate I'I which during the operation of the cleaner, supports the under side of the dust receptacle to preclude its contact with the impervious platform I I which contact would limit the free passage of air through the lower side walls of the dust receptacle.

The casing of the device is generally indicated by the numeral 20 and is pivotally supported by pintles 2| to upstanding ears 22 mounted at the rear end of the base I0. The casing 20 has mounted therein a motor-fan unit 23 which communicates by a passage 24 through an intermediate bulkhead 25 with a dust receptacle compartment 2l. The bulkhead 25 divides the casing into a rear motor fan compartment 26 and, forwardly thereof, the dust receptacle compartment 2l. The compartment 26 of the casing is completely surrounded by a casing shell 28 which together with the bulkhead 25 seals the compartment 2S so that air moved by the energization of the motor-fan unit enters through the connection 24 and is discharged through a suitable discharge port 29 behind the motor-fan unit. A suitable switch 3Q arranged for foot actuation is mounted on the surrounding casing 28 and associated therewith is a lifting handle 3|, the forward end of which is mounted in a bracket 32 at the forward end i of the casing.

Forwardiy of the bulkhead 25 the casing is constructed as an inverted U which by referring to Fig. Ll may be seen as including a top wall 33 and side walls 34 which are centrally struck out to provide longitudinally extending side chambers 35. The lower ends of the side walls 3-4 terminate in inwardly turned flanges 36 which, when the casing is in the lower horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, engage the gasket I2 to seal the casing to the platform Mounted within the chamber 21 is a perforated cage 38 which throughout its length is of substantially inverted U-shaped cross section corresponding to the configuration of the walls surrounding it. The inner end of the cage terminates in a perforated end wall 39. The cage in cooperation with the perforate plate I1 constitutes a substantially rectangular housing against the walls of which the inflated dust receptacle may be pressed so as to relieve the walls of the receptacle from the danger of fracture without restricting the free passage of air therethrough.

The forward end of the compartment 21 is provided with a groove formed by a double flanged peripheral channel member 40. The channel member 40 is itself U-shaped in transverse section and extends around the inner face of the forward extremity of the substantially inverted U-shaped mouth of the forward end of the casing, the arrangement being such that a rigid end member of the dust receptacle, hereinafter to be described, may be tted within the groove when the casing is tilted to the position shown in Fig. 2.

For closing the forward end of the casing there is provided a front end cover 45 which is mounted for rectilinear movement with respect to the casing by a pair of rearwardly extending supporting and guiding pins 46 which extend within the longitudinal chambers 35, being supported for reciprocating motion therein by inwardly extending perforated ears 41. The terminal ends of the rods 46 are turned inwardly as shown at 48 in Fig. 3 and are adapted to extend through retaining sleeves 49 carried by the base ||J upon standards 50 when the casing is in lowered position and the cover closed. The sleeves 49 are positioned between the side walls of the cage 38 and the side walls of the casing inwardly of the chambers 35 and remain xed and stationary with the base I when the casing is tilted and act to secure the casing against tilting movement when the end cover is closed.

Surrounding the rods 46 there is provided coil springs the innermost ends of which abut the forward ears 41, while the forward ends abut the inner face plate 52 of the cover 45 so as to be compressed when the cover is closed to thereby provide an outward pressure on the cover 45.

The cover 45 includes a central aperture provided with a hose receiving coupling 53 to which is applied a suction tube 54. The possible movement of the cover 45 rectilinearly as guided by the rods 46 is such as to permit the tube 54 to move outwardly suiciently to clear the groove 40 so as to permitfree insertion and withdrawal of the rigid front end of the dust receptacle.

The dust receptacle of the present invention includes a flexible porous body 55 which for the purpose of economy is preferably formed of paper, thus permitting the disposal of a loaded dust receptacle and the insertion of a new receptacle without materially affecting the economy of the operation of the device. The forward end of the flexible body 55 is provided with a rigid end member 56 which is adapted to fit Within the U- shaped groove formed by the channel and when fully inserted to have a central aperture 51 thereof in registration with the tube 54, the arrangement being such that when the receptacle is properly inserted the cover may be moved inwardly against the compression of the spring 5|, thus inserting the tube 54 through the aperture 51. A gasket 58 is mounted on the inner plate 52 of the cover 45 so as to assure an air tight seal between the tube and the receptacle when the cover is moved inwardly.

The casing 20 is normally urged to the uptilted position shown in Fig. 2 by suitable torsion springs 60 encircling the pintles 2|. Due to the fact that the casing is pivoted at the rear end of the base member, there is clearance for the rear end of the casing to pivot downwardly, as is shown in Fig. 2, as the front end pivots upwardly. The relatively heavy electric motor of the motor fan unit, being located in the portion of the casing which overhangs the base member, aids the torsion springs 6D in tilting the casing. With the cover moved inwardly and the casing tilted downwardly against the torsion of the springs 60, the assembly is secured in position by a pivoted latch 62. The inturned latching end 63 of the latch is adapted to engage through an aperture 64 in the cover 45 to retain the assembly in the operating position shown in Fig. 1 with the cover moved inwardly against the compression of the springs 5| and the casing tilted downwardly against the torsion of the springs 60.

For releasing the cover and the casing a solenoid 65 is provided, the armature of which engages the latch 62 so that upon energization of the solenoid the latch is rocked in counter-clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus releasing the cover and with it the casing. For energizing the solenoid 65 there is provided a Sylphon bellows 66 and an associated switch 61, the arrangement being such that when the interstices of the body of the dust receptacle are clogged by the presence in the receptacle of a predetermined amount of dirt, suction in the -chamber 21 exteriorly of the receptacle increases to a point where the Sylphon 66 closes the switch 61 energizing the solenoid 65 to move the latch to release the cover and the casing.

In the operation of the device with the casing in the uptilted position shown in Fig. 2 the rigid end 56 of the receptacle is inserted within the groove formed by the member 40 and is moved by sliding motion upwardly to fully seated position whereby the aperture 51 of the end 56 is in alignment with the intake tube 54 of the cover 45. The casing is then tilted downwardly against the torsion of the springs to lie in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1. With the casing in horizontal position the cover is moved inwardly against the compression of the springs 5| whereby the tube 54 is inserted through the aperture 51 and with such motion the ends 48 of the rods 46 are inserted within and retained by their keepers 49, thus retaining the casing in the horizontal position. Inward movement of the cover ment out of the path of the movement of the ovi- -until the latch end 63 registers with the aperture B4 whereupon the end 63 extends into the cover to secure the cover against outward movement and thereby securing the casing in the operative horizontal position shown in Fig. 1. With the device in this operative position energization of the motor through manipulation of theV switch 30` produces a suction causing an inflow of Vdust-laden air.A The dirt and dust which is separated by the passage of air through the interstices of the receptacle body 55 is retained in the receptacle while clean air vis exhausted through the outlet 29.

As dirt is entrapped within the receptacle, the pores thereof become increasingly clogged and the suction in the chamber 21- increases to a predetermined extent, whereupon the Sylphon 6E will close the switch 61 energizing the solenoid 65, whereupon thelatch will be moved to release the cover 45 which will move under the force of the springs 5i to. disengage the ends 413 from the keepers 49, thus releasing the casing whereupon it is moved by the springs G to the uptilted position shown in Fig. 2. The receptacle may then be removed by a sliding movement outwardly from the groove and the device is then ready Afor insertion of aclean receptacle and a repetition of the cycle.

It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific structural details here shown and that numerous changes and modifications and a full use of equivalents may be resorted to Without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a base member adapted to be supported horizontally, a casing movably mounted on said base member, a portion of said casing over said base member having top and side walls providing a chamber having a bottom opening and a front opening, said base member forming a closure for said bottom opening when said casing is moved to a position contiguous thereto, a cover member for said front opening, a dust receptacle having a front wall provided with an inlet opening and being insertable into and removable from said chamber through said bottom opening when said casing is moved away from said base member, an inlet conduit carried by said cover member and projecting into the inlet opening in said receptacle when the cover member is closed, and means for movably mounting said cover member with respect to saidcasing so that said cover member may be moved forwardly sufciently for said conduit to be withdrawn from said inlet opening.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a base member adapted to be supported horizontally, a casing pivotally mounted on said base member about a horizontal axis, a portion of said casing over said base member having top and side walls providing a chamber having a bottom opening and a front opening, said base member forming a closure for said bottom opening when said casing is pivoted downwardly to a position contiguous thereto, resilient means tending to pivot said casing upwardly from said base, a cover member for said front opening, a dust receptacle having a front wall provided with an inlet opening and being insertable into and removable from said chamber through said bottom opening when said casing is pivoted upwardly from said base member, an inlet conduit carried by said cover member and projecting into the inlet opening in said receptacle when the cover member is closed, mea-ns for movably mounting said cover member with respect to said casing so that said cover member may be moved for-V wardly sufficiently to withdraw said conduit from said inlet opening, resilient means urging said cover member away from said casing, and releas-v able latch means. forholding said cover member closed and said casing inthe position contiguous to said base member.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, abaise member; adapted to bev supported horizontally, a casing pivotally mounted onsaid base member about a horizontal axis, a portion of said casing over said base mem-A ber having top and side walls providing a chamber having a bottom opening and a front opening, said base member forminga closure for said bot tom opening when said casing is pivoted downwardly to a position contiguous. thereto, resilient means tending to pivot saidcasing upwardly fromsaid base, a cover member' fori said front' opening, a dust receptacle having a front wall provided4 with an inlet opening and being insertable into` and removable from said chamber through said bottom openingv when said casing is pivoted upwardly fromsaid base'V member, an inletv conduit carried by said cover member and projecting into the inlet opening in said receptacle when the cover member is closed, an arm secured' to said cover member and slidably mounted on' said casing for movably mounting the cover member on the casing so that said covermember may be moved forwardly sufficiently for said conduit to be withdrawn from said inlet opening, resilient means urging said cover member away from said casing, a bracket secured to said base member and engageable by said arm When said casing is in the postion contiguous to said base member and when said cover member is closed to retain said casing in the 1ast-mentioned position, and a releasable latch for holding said cover member closed.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a base member including a platform and means for supporting said platform horizontally above a horizontal surface, a casing, a pivoted connection about a horizontal axis between said casing and said platform located at one end of the platform and at an intermediate point of the casing whereby one end of the casing overhangs said one end of the platform, a portion of said casing over said platform having top and side walls providing a chamber having an opening at the bottom, said platform forming a closure for said opening when said portion of the casing is pivoted downwardly to a position contiguous thereto, resilient means tending to pivot said portion of the casing upwardly from said platform and to pivot the overhung end of said casing downwardly below the level of said platform, releasable latch means for restraining said casing against movement by said resilient means, and a dust receptacle insertable into and removable from said chamber when said portion of the casing is pivoted upwardly from said platform.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a base member adapted to be supported horizontally, a casing pivotally mounted on said base member about a horizontal axis, a portion of said casing over said base member having top and side walls providing a chamber having an opening at the bottom, said base member forming a closure for said opening when said casing is pivoted downwardly to a position contiguous thereto, resilient means tending to pivot said casing upwardly from said base, releasable latch means for restraining said casing against movement by said resilient means, an air permeable dust separating receptacle insertable into and removable from said chamber through said opening'when said casing is pivoted upwardly from said base member, means for producing ilow of air through said chamber andV through the dust receptacle therein, and means responsive to an increase in the resistance to flow of air through said dust receptacle for releasing said latch means.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a base member adapted to be supported horizontally, a casing pivotally mounted on said base member about a horizontal axis, a portion of said casing .over said base member having top and side walls pro-- viding a chamber having a bottom opening and a front opening, said base member forming a closure for said bottom opening when said casing is pivoted downwardly to a position contiguous thereto, resilient means tending to pivot said casing upwardly from said base, a cover member for .said front opening, an air permeable dust separating receptacle having a front wall provided with an inlet opening and being insertable into and removable from said chamber through i said bottom opening when said casing is pivoted upwardly from said base member, an inlet conduit carried by said cover member and projecting into the inlet opening in said receptacle when the cover member is closed, means for movably mounting said cover member with respect to said casing` so that said cover member may be moved forwardly sufciently to Withdraw said conduit from said inlet opening, resilient means urging said cover, member away from said casing, means for producing flow of air through said "chamber and through the dust receptacle therein, releas- 1 able latch means for holding said cover member closed and said casing in the position contiguous to said base member, and means responsive to an increase in the resistance to flow of air through said dust receptacle for releasing said latch means.

JOHN T. FERRARIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

